The Pass Casino in downtown Henderson’s Water Street District has a new owner as ECL Water Street, operator of the Emerald Island and Rainbow Club casinos, acquired it from DeSimone Gaming.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Nevada gaming regulators must approve the transaction.
“The Passport is a cornerstone of this community,” Tim Brooks, director of the Emerald Island and Rainbow Club casinos, said in a statement. “We are honored to welcome The Pass into the ECL family and look forward to building on the strong foundation that Joe (DeSimone) and his team have established.”
Following an expected closing on Aug. 1, ECL Water Street will evaluate options to renovate the property and introduce new amenities, to ensure the venue’s development complements the ongoing revitalization of the Water Street District, according to a press release.
“From the day we acquired The Pass, our goal was to honor Henderson’s history while delivering an exceptional experience for our guests,” DeSimone said in a statement. “ECL Gaming has demonstrated a strong commitment to our community, and I am confident that they will continue to invest in the success of The Pass for years to come.”
After the sale of the casino is completed, the DeSimone Cos. will continue to own and operate the nearby Atwell Suites on Water Street. DeSimone’s company also owns the Railroad Pass Casino between Henderson and Boulder City.
The Pass Casino opened as the Wheel Casino in February 1961, but closed a year later and reopened as the Eldorado Casino. In 1965, the owners acquired the adjacent Royal Club, doubling Eldorado’s size.
Boyd Gaming acquired the property in 1993 and used it as a training ground for young managers due to its small size.
When casinos closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Boyd kept the property closed until December 2020 and sold it to DeSimone. The Eldorado reopened as The Pass in April 2021. In March 2022, DeSimone announced plans to build the 90-room Atwell Suites hotel in the casino’s parking lot.
The property currently has a 17,756-square-foot casino with approximately 350 slot machines, six table games and a Circa Sports-powered race and sportsbook.
The restaurants Ristorante Italiano and Emilia’s Cafe are located within the property.
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